Wendell Edwards

DOES THE NEEDLE HURT???? I have had a total of 9 fills now. Only ONE TIME did I even feel the needle. And that one time wasn't too bad. My fills are done with fluoroscope in under 10 minutes.

I am going to paste two different posts that I have made in the past, the first one is about the importance of staying on the post-op diet, the second one is an overview of how the Lap-Band actuallt works, including information about fill times. "How Important Is The Post-Op Diet?" It is critical. Most doctors prescribe a post-op diet of weeks of clear fluids, followed by weeks of full fluids followed by weeks of mushy food. My doctor said 2 weeks clear Fluid, 2 weeks full fluids and 2 weeks of mushy food. The time following the operation is for your stomach to heal. The Lap-Band needs to form a groove on your stomach. That groove makes the Lap-Band resistant to slipping. Eating food during the post-op period before you are supposed to be eating food could cause the Lap-Band to slip, or increase the risk of a future slippage. Food causes the stomach muscle to "Work" to digest the food. The "Work" could cause the band to not seat properly on the stomach. Weight loss is NOT to be expected during the recovery time after the operation. If you lose weight, wonderful, but don't expect it. The time between the operation and getting an EFFECTIVE fill that causes restriction is called "Bandster Hell" for a good reason. Without an EFFECTIVE fill, our hunger is just as strong, but the band does not work to help us. Getting an EFFECTIVE fill sometimes takes multiple fills, it is not unusual for it to take 3-5 or even MORE fills to obtain restriction. Because the band has to seat into the groove to hold its position, and every time the band is filled the fill adds extra pressure on the band, most doctors choose to let time pass between fills. Most doctors will not fill a band before 4 weeks after the operation, 6 weeks is common and 8-12 weeks of healing time is not unheard of. "How does a Lap-Band actually work?" This may help you in understanding the restrictive mechanism of a Lap-Band. The INAMED protocol for Lap-Band fills calls for a six-week delay after surgery, prior to any fills. The purpose for the six-week delay is for the patient’s stomach to heal from the surgery, as well as allowing time for the Lap-Band to “Seat” or “Nestle” into the fat pad between the stomach wall and the interior wall of the Lap-Band. Prior to receiving an EFFECTIVE fill, it is VERY uncommon to have any restriction from a Lap-Band. Some patients will NOT lose weight, or may even GAIN weight until they have received an effective fill in their Lap-Band. Normal weight loss with a properly restricted Lap-Band is between 1 and 2 pounds per week. The normal cycle of fills, restriction and weight loss is as follows: 1. The patient's Lap-Band constricts when the patient receives a fill. Swelling for a few days after receiving a fill is very common. Many doctors require a patient to go on a liquid diet for a day or two after receiving a fill. A fill may have a “Delayed Action” of up to two weeks. A “Delayed-Action” means that the fill may not become effective for up to two weeks after the fill. That is why the INAMED protocol states that fills should not be performed on patients who will not have access to medical care for at least two weeks after a fill. 2. The patient's stomach capacity is lessened as a result of the restriction caused by the Lap-Band. 3. The patient loses weight because they cannot eat as much food. 4. The residual fat-pad between the inside of the Lap-Band and the outside of the patient's stomach reduces in size because of the overall weight loss in the patient. 5. The reduction of the residual fat-pad causes the Lap-Band to become loose again. 6. At that point, the patient needs another fill, because the Lap-Band is loose, and the patient has a loss of restriction, which allows the patient to eat larger amounts of food. 7. The patient receives another fill and the process starts all over again. Most Lap-Band patients receive several fills to adjust the Lap-Band as their weight loss progresses, and there is less and less residual fat-pad between the inside of the Lap-Band and the exterior of the stomach wall. Once a patient has lost all of their residual fat-pad, fills become less common. As the Lap-Band patient progresses in their weight loss, the effect of very tiny fills (Less than .2ccs) becomes greater and greater. It is not uncommon for a late-stage Lap-Band patient to experience a significant difference in restriction with as little as .05cc of fill.

OP is from MAYBERRY.... but now he directs movies. (Runs!)

Just saying hello, and welcome! My doctor knows your doctor and he has a sterling reputation. You're in good hands!

I was just wondering what it feels like to you guys when your food is going through your band? I don't really feel it. I am feeling a lot of tightness in my throat muscles. It is like a lot of tension. I don't really know how else to explain it. I have been feeling a bit tighter lately. I am having a hard time getting coffee down in the morning, but if I wait about an hour longer I can get down a fruit/yogurt smoothie just fine. I think you might be too tight if a warm Fluid in the morning is too much to handle. Later in the day it is a bit easier to eat, but I know that is pretty common. I am just wondering if anyone else experiences that muscle tightness or if you guys think I might be too tight. Any time that drinking fluids is a problem, being overfilled is the likely culprit. I have been at the same fill level since the end of June and I am just now questioning the fill. I only give fills 4 weeks to settle down, because the longest time I have heard of for a delayed-action fill to kick in was four weeks. I don't want to just run back to my fill doc. It's a 3 hour drive and it costs $200. Plus, I don't want to end up regretting an unfill and feel too lose. The answer for that is getting TINY fills and unfills. That's hard for you because of time/distance/money. However, if I continue to feel discomfort I will probably go. I am just going to give it some time first. I think you have given it enough time already. The following is from a post that I wrote a long time ago: "How does a Lap-Band actually work?" This may help you in understanding the restrictive mechanism of a Lap-Band. The INAMED protocol for Lap-Band fills calls for a six-week delay after surgery, prior to any fills. The purpose for the six-week delay is for the patient’s stomach to heal from the surgery, as well as allowing time for the Lap-Band to “Seat” or “Nestle” into the fat pad between the stomach wall and the interior wall of the Lap-Band. Prior to receiving an EFFECTIVE fill, it is VERY uncommon to have any restriction from a Lap-Band. Some patients will NOT lose weight, or may even GAIN weight until they have received an effective fill in their Lap-Band. Normal weight loss with a properly restricted Lap-Band is between 1 and 2 pounds per week. The normal cycle of fills, restriction and weight loss is as follows: 1. The patient's Lap-Band constricts when the patient receives a fill. Swelling for a few days after receiving a fill is very common. Many doctors require a patient to go on a liquid diet for a day or two after receiving a fill. A fill may have a “Delayed Action” of up to two weeks. A “Delayed-Action” means that the fill may not become effective for up to two weeks after the fill. That is why the INAMED protocol states that fills should not be performed on patients who will not have access to medical care for at least two weeks after a fill. 2. The patient's stomach capacity is lessened as a result of the restriction caused by the Lap-Band. 3. The patient loses weight because they cannot eat as much food. 4. The residual fat-pad between the inside of the Lap-Band and the outside of the patient's stomach reduces in size because of the overall weight loss in the patient. 5. The reduction of the residual fat-pad causes the Lap-Band to become loose again. 6. At that point, the patient needs another fill, because the Lap-Band is loose, and the patient has a loss of restriction, which allows the patient to eat larger amounts of food. 7. The patient receives another fill and the process starts all over again. Most Lap-Band patients receive several fills to adjust the Lap-Band as their weight loss progresses, and there is less and less residual fat-pad between the inside of the Lap-Band and the exterior of the stomach wall. Once a patient has lost all of their residual fat-pad, fills become less common. As the Lap-Band patient progresses in their weight loss, the effect of very tiny fills (Less than .2ccs) becomes greater and greater. It is not uncommon for a late-stage Lap-Band patient to experience a significant difference in restriction with as little as .05cc of fill.

Can slippage or any other problem with the band be caused? No. The band is not affected by vigorous exercise, so an adjustment will not bother it.

Not necessarily. It only takes a few OUNCES of fat reduction IF that particular fat is between the inside of the band and the outside of the stomach.

Some hubbys freak out when their wives decide to get a Lap-Band. I believe this stems from a couple of different issues. Change is a scary thing for most people, and their wife is announcing that they are going to change. That freaks guys out. Most men are interested in the "Why" of things, and when the wife announces they are changing, men wonder "Why"? A lot of men think that they are the reason WHY their wives are changing, and they decide that their wife must want a different man. See, guys think of stuff like this: Their wife has a body that is like a car, and if she is going to turn that "Car" into a "Hot-Rod" then she MUST want to go "Racing". (Presumably with ANOTHER "Driver") So guys freak out. They think that their wives are dissatisfied with their marriages and that they are planning on losing weight to attract another man. I know that in most cases this is not the truth. But a WHOLE LOT of men don't know that! So if your hubby is freaking out because of you wanting a Lap-Band, you may want to assure him that you want to do this for whatever reason, and remind him that you are NOT looking to leave him for another guy.

You're very welcome! Lap-Band seems to me to be sort of a roller-coaster ride of ups and downs and surprises. It's like the weather, it changes every 10 minutes! :faint:

That is EXACTLY what is happening. The fat around your internal organs is the most dangerous fat to you, and your body is dropping weight there. Take a cardboard tube from a paper towel roll. (Your stomach) Wrap it in a pound of fatty bacon. (The residual fat-pad around your stomach) Tie a balloon around the bacon and inflate it. (The lap-band) "Melt" a little of the bacon away underneath that balloon. (Lose weight) That is exactly what happens when the residual fat-pad melts and loosens up the band. If a person loses even a few ounces underneath the band, it's going to get loose and need a fill. Graphic, but REALEASY to visualize, isn't it?

Thank you. I won't have time for it for a few days, but I will post a consolidated fill post when I get it done. The issue of doctors not filling according to the INAMED (Now ALLERGAN) protocol is well-known. Perhaps by posting a comprehensive thread, with attendant explanations as to why such a protocol should be followed I can provide a persuasive arguement for people to use with their doctors who insist on using less successful fill techniques.

My concern would be a protein deficiency. I advise you to ask your doctor or nutritionist about this, as a protein deficiency will ultimately sacrifice the fat-burning muscle in your body, resulting in less muscle and a higher percentage of body fat.

Of course, you realize that this is the first sign of THE END TIME!!! :faint:

I have a VG Lap-Band. Actually, I have had one over three years now. I recommend attending the seminar and asking a lot of questions, then coming back here and reading a lot of the posts.

Thank you. I am considering consolidating the many posts that I have written about fills into one single post, as fills and questions about them seem to be a very hot topic on different message boards.

Who? Me? No, I have only had one minor complication, hardly worth mentioning.

You're very welcome! I didn't obtain effective restriction until fill number 4, which was 24 weeks after surgery! :faint:

And they have children.... and they VOTE.....

"I guess basically I'm for as little control over it as possible but I do like the idea of education/safety classes." Same here. I would add a mandatory issue of a nationwide CCW permit at the conclusion of the course, with no expiration date on the permit. Of course, I would ALSO add a mandatory 20-year sentence to ANYONE caught using a firearm in the commission of a crime.

Yeah, I laughed at her pitiable ignorance also.

It sounds like you are tight, but perhaps not too tight after the swelling from the fill goes down. This may help you in understanding the restrictive mechanism of a Lap-Band. The INAMED protocol for Lap-Band fills calls for a six-week delay after surgery, prior to any fills. The purpose for the six-week delay is for the patient’s stomach to heal from the surgery, as well as allowing time for the Lap-Band to “Seat” or “Nestle” into the fat pad between the stomach wall and the interior wall of the Lap-Band. Prior to receiving an EFFECTIVE fill, it is VERY uncommon to have any restriction from a Lap-Band. Some patients will NOT lose weight, or may even GAIN weight until they have received an effective fill in their Lap-Band. Normal weight loss with a properly restricted Lap-Band is between 1 and 2 pounds per week. The normal cycle of fills, restriction and weight loss is as follows: 1. The patient's Lap-Band constricts when the patient receives a fill. Swelling for a few days after receiving a fill is very common. Many doctors require a patient to go on a liquid diet for a day or two after receiving a fill. A fill may have a “Delayed Action” of up to two weeks. A “Delayed-Action” means that the fill may not become effective for up to two weeks after the fill. That is why the INAMED protocol states that fills should not be performed on patients who will not have access to medical care for at least two weeks after a fill. 2. The patient's stomach capacity is lessened as a result of the restriction caused by the Lap-Band. 3. The patient loses weight because they cannot eat as much food. 4. The residual fat-pad between the inside of the Lap-Band and the outside of the patient's stomach reduces in size because of the overall weight loss in the patient. 5. The reduction of the residual fat-pad causes the Lap-Band to become loose again. 6. At that point, the patient needs another fill, because the Lap-Band is loose, and the patient has a loss of restriction, which allows the patient to eat larger amounts of food. 7. The patient receives another fill and the process starts all over again. Most Lap-Band patients receive several fills to adjust the Lap-Band as their weight loss progresses, and there is less and less residual fat-pad between the inside of the Lap-Band and the exterior of the stomach wall. Once a patient has lost all of their residual fat-pad, fills become less common. As the Lap-Band patient progresses in their weight loss, the effect of very tiny fills (Less than .2ccs) becomes greater and greater. It is not uncommon for a late-stage Lap-Band patient to experience a significant difference in restriction with as little as .05cc of fill. And most people with a properly adjusted band eat between one and one and a half cups of food per meal.

This may help you in understanding the restrictive mechanism of a Lap-Band. The INAMED protocol for Lap-Band fills calls for a six-week delay after surgery, prior to any fills. The purpose for the six-week delay is for the patient’s stomach to heal from the surgery, as well as allowing time for the Lap-Band to “Seat” or “Nestle” into the fat pad between the stomach wall and the interior wall of the Lap-Band. Prior to receiving an EFFECTIVE fill, it is VERY uncommon to have any restriction from a Lap-Band. Some patients will NOT lose weight, or may even GAIN weight until they have received an effective fill in their Lap-Band. Normal weight loss with a properly restricted Lap-Band is between 1 and 2 pounds per week. The normal cycle of fills, restriction and weight loss is as follows: 1. The patient's Lap-Band constricts when the patient receives a fill. Swelling for a few days after receiving a fill is very common. Many doctors require a patient to go on a liquid diet for a day or two after receiving a fill. A fill may have a “Delayed Action” of up to two weeks. A “Delayed-Action” means that the fill may not become effective for up to two weeks after the fill. That is why the INAMED protocol states that fills should not be performed on patients who will not have access to medical care for at least two weeks after a fill. 2. The patient's stomach capacity is lessened as a result of the restriction caused by the Lap-Band. 3. The patient loses weight because they cannot eat as much food. 4. The residual fat-pad between the inside of the Lap-Band and the outside of the patient's stomach reduces in size because of the overall weight loss in the patient. 5. The reduction of the residual fat-pad causes the Lap-Band to become loose again. 6. At that point, the patient needs another fill, because the Lap-Band is loose, and the patient has a loss of restriction, which allows the patient to eat larger amounts of food. 7. The patient receives another fill and the process starts all over again. Most Lap-Band patients receive several fills to adjust the Lap-Band as their weight loss progresses, and there is less and less residual fat-pad between the inside of the Lap-Band and the exterior of the stomach wall. Once a patient has lost all of their residual fat-pad, fills become less common. As the Lap-Band patient progresses in their weight loss, the effect of very tiny fills (Less than .2ccs) becomes greater and greater. It is not uncommon for a late-stage Lap-Band patient to experience a significant difference in restriction with as little as .05cc of fill.

Thank you!

This may help you in understanding the restrictive mechanism of a Lap-Band. The INAMED protocol for Lap-Band fills calls for a six-week delay after surgery, prior to any fills. The purpose for the six-week delay is for the patient’s stomach to heal from the surgery, as well as allowing time for the Lap-Band to “Seat” or “Nestle” into the fat pad between the stomach wall and the interior wall of the Lap-Band. Prior to receiving an EFFECTIVE fill, it is VERY uncommon to have any restriction from a Lap-Band. Some patients will NOT lose weight, or may even GAIN weight until they have received an effective fill in their Lap-Band. Normal weight loss with a properly restricted Lap-Band is between 1 and 2 pounds per week. The normal cycle of fills, restriction and weight loss is as follows: 1. The patient's Lap-Band constricts when the patient receives a fill. Swelling for a few days after receiving a fill is very common. Many doctors require a patient to go on a liquid diet for a day or two after receiving a fill. A fill may have a “Delayed Action” of up to two weeks. A “Delayed-Action” means that the fill may not become effective for up to two weeks after the fill. That is why the INAMED protocol states that fills should not be performed on patients who will not have access to medical care for at least two weeks after a fill. 2. The patient's stomach capacity is lessened as a result of the restriction caused by the Lap-Band. 3. The patient loses weight because they cannot eat as much food. 4. The residual fat-pad between the inside of the Lap-Band and the outside of the patient's stomach reduces in size because of the overall weight loss in the patient. 5. The reduction of the residual fat-pad causes the Lap-Band to become loose again. 6. At that point, the patient needs another fill, because the Lap-Band is loose, and the patient has a loss of restriction, which allows the patient to eat larger amounts of food. 7. The patient receives another fill and the process starts all over again. Most Lap-Band patients receive several fills to adjust the Lap-Band as their weight loss progresses, and there is less and less residual fat-pad between the inside of the Lap-Band and the exterior of the stomach wall. Once a patient has lost all of their residual fat-pad, fills become less common. As the Lap-Band patient progresses in their weight loss, the effect of very tiny fills (Less than .2ccs) becomes greater and greater. It is not uncommon for a late-stage Lap-Band patient to experience a significant difference in restriction with as little as .05cc of fill.

You have to do what you have to do. One statistic that I keep in mind is this: The 10-year mortality rate for morbidly-obese people who do NOT have surgery is about 9 TIMES HIGHER than those who DO have surgery.